Zoya's Gift - by Gail McCormick (Paperback)

About the Book

"Still recovering from the heartbreak of infertility, memoirist Gail McCormick and her husband volunteer to host two Children of Chernobyl for a summer reprieve from radiation exposure. Fate pairs the Seattle couple with eight-year-old Ukrainian twin sisters from Belarus-and rekindles Gail's childhood dream to build a bridge of peace between the US and the former Soviet Union. Over four summers of mayhem and magic with the twins, a deep relationship takes root. When the girls age out of the program that brought them to Seattle, Gail confronts her Cold War fears and travels with her husband to reunite with them in Ukraine and Belarus. On this soul-making trip to a land of unspeakable loss, she celebrates life in the homes of an accordion--playing Chernobyl hero and a barefooted babushka who distills her own vodka, and-behind the remnants of the Iron Curtain--finds her place as an honorary mother and babushka in a four--generation family of former Soviets. Poignant and culturally rich, her narrative transports readers to storied cities, villages, and dachas from Kyiv to Minsk. Written with reverence, insight, humor, and hope, Zoya's Gift illuminates the complexities, joys, and importance of reaching across political, class, and cultural divides" -- From Publisher's web site.

Book Synopsis

A dream suddenly sparks to life when the pain of infertility coincides with a nuclear explosion, bringing mayhem, magic, and the Children of Chernobyl to Seattle. In this poignant memoir, Gail McCormick embarks on a soul-making journey to the storied cities and villages of Ukraine and Belarus-and finds her place in a four-generation global family.

Review Quotes

"A moving affirmation of the healing power of interpersonal connection. ...[McCormick's] own hopes for the future, and her strong belief in the power of individual acts to bridge cultural divides is inspirational."
-Kirkus Reviews

"A heart-wrenching and heart-warming memoir that chronicles the author's transformative journey from heartbreak to healing through her relationship with Ukrainian twin sisters and their extended global family. Amidst the backdrop of infertility and the aftermath of the Chernobyl disaster, McCormick discovers unexpected connections and profound love that transcend cultural and geographical boundaries. . . . a highly recommended read for fans of inspirational memoirs everywhere."
--Readers' Favorite

"Gail McCormick's memoir reminds any woman who has yearned for children of her own that there are many ways to 'mother.' When one dream ends, an extraordinary life may begin."
--Melanie Notkin, author of Otherhood: Modern Women Finding a New Kind of Happiness

"A tender odyssey of the soul, by turns both personal and political, Zoya's Gift is an intimate memoir of love and grief that shows how, with willingness and courage, there are many ways to create a family of the heart when a family of the womb was not to be."
--Jody Day, founder of Gateway Women and author of Living the Life Unexpected: How to Find Hope, Meaning and a Fulfilling Future Without Children

"Zoya's Gift is a heartwarming testament to the magic that happens when strangers from different cultures, without a common language between them, decide to choose each other as family. In this wonderfully crafted memoir, McCormick shows us that extraordinary gifts can emerge from the most unlikely connections when we move away from judgement and learn to celebrate our differences."
--Laura Maya, author of Tell Them My Name

"Enchanting--that is the only way to describe the eight-year-old twins at the heart of Gail McCormick's memoir. When they creep off the plane that has flown them from the Chernobyl fallout zone to Seattle for a summer of fresh air, Gail's life changes forever. The book is also a true story of love and loss and restoration. There are ups and downs, joy and sorrows. The author handles them all with a deft touch that illuminates and inspires hope."
--Ellen Barker, author of East of Troost: A Novel and Still Needs Work: A Novel

"Giving birth is not the only way to become a mother, as Gail McCormick proves in this engaging memoir. This is a beautifully written memoir about an important subject, especially in these days of war between Ukraine and Russia. While shining a light on truths that cannot be spoken where Vika and Maria live, McCormick also offers an encouraging Plan B for couples who struggle with infertility."
--Sue Fagalde Lick, author of Childless by Marriage and No Way Out of This: Loving a Partner with Alzheimer's